Bob
was born in Egham, Surrey on 5th May
1935.
In
September 1953 he became liable for National Service. After two
years full time service, followed by two years in the Territorial
Army, he served two more years as a volunteer.
He served
until 1954 with 47 Company, Air Despatch, RASC, and then with 16
Airborne Division RASC in Southall, Middlesex. In 1956 he
volunteered for transfer to Airborne REME and remained with this
unit until discharge in 1960.
He did his
'P' course parachute training at Maida Barracks, Aldershot, and in
the course of this broke the record on the main assault course. He
then moved to the parachute course at Abingdon.
